The fine act of balancing college sports

Wed, Nov 23rd 2016 12:00 pm

Alex Laubret, in her fifth track meet of the season, jumps over a hurdle and heads toward the finish line, striving to reach (hopefully) another victory.

By
Akira Thornton

College can be heavily stressful. The workload given each
week is massive, homework and exams are tremendously difficult, not to mention
trying to balance all of this and a social life. Take into consideration
juggling a sport. The pressure that comes with playing a sport in college can
be sometimes more difficult than imaginable.

Athletes have to deal with the
fear of being cut, not being up to the caliber of college-level play, and the
commitment to practices and games. Therefore, the result is many students
eventually quit pursuing their sport and move onto other endeavors. Mostly
because of stress, the lack of sleep they sustain, balancing their lifestyle,
as well as all the pressures that come with being a Division 1 athlete.

Alexandra Laubert, a newcomer to the track and field team
at Niagara University, is feeling the pressure of college and sport colliding.
Even though she is coping well, on many occasions she still finds it hard to
balance her busy schedule as well as continuing to be successful in the
classroom.

"I'm a biology major, so it's really hard for me to find
time to juggle my sport and the heavy load of homework I'm given every week,
and I've had to sacrifice my social life in order to be successful." Laubert
says.

It's common for athletes to feel like they are missing out
on the social scene of college. College, for most students, is their first time
experiencing freedom away from parents. Students are able to attempt activities
they've never tried before, and create lifelong memories. Within the lifestyle
of a Division 1 athlete, on some occasions, it can feel like sports are
strictly business, and consume all time. Sometimes this can feel like a state
of isolation: From the outside looking in, being an athlete in college may seem
like a privilege, but often times it can feel like athletes aren't fulfilling
their college experience. Student athletes are unable to participate in some of
the activities that their other peers are involved in, because of the sheer fact
they just don't have time in their busy schedules to attend to other interests.
These activities include, but are not limited to, clubs and Greek life. This
explains the reason why many Division 1 athletes refer to playing a sport as
more like a job and less like a hobby.

When we are younger, sports can feel like they are
carefree. There's more of a fun aspect that goes along with playing. Most
student athletes have played a sport their entire lives, perfecting their craft
so they maintain the capabilities necessary to compete among college athletes.

The higher conference level in which an athlete
participates in can dictate the caliber of skill they are expected to obtain.
When you are looking to be drafted or possibly play professionally, the play
gets tougher, and skill set has to be borderline exceptional.

Arizona State University Division 1 soccer player Jazmarie
Mader can attest to this.

Being a part of a team in the Pac-12 Conference can be
extremely strenuous on her college schedule, especially when she is working
hard toward the dream of becoming a professional athlete. Mader says she hopes
to be drafted within her years of playing college soccer. Leading the PAC-12 in
goals at one point in her junior year season, her dreams don't seem very far-fetched.

"Being an athlete in college is very tough," Mader says. "During
the season, I find it hard to make time for my family, and it's hard to fit
school work into my busy schedule. However, I have the passion for it. This is
the lifestyle I chose, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love being an
athlete, and I wanna do this for the rest of my life."

Although some find it easy to adapt to this lifestyle,
others crack under pressure. Many student athletes quit after a semester of
participating in their sport. Statistics show that, after a full year of
playing a sport in college at the Division 1 level, 15 percent of students quit
playing and desire to be regular students.

There are many reasons why athletes tend to give up on the
sport they love, although it may seem like they have the passion for it. The
stress starts to outweigh the love for the game. The stigma can be heavily
difficult to manage: the worry of being cut, not receiving playing time, or not
living up to the expectations the coaches have set before you. Stress plays a huge
factor in an athlete's life; being below average amongst their teammates can
take a heavy toll on their mindsets. Working hard toward a dream practically
your entire life and not benefiting toward it can be discouraging for many
student athletes.

As well as missing out on family get-togethers and
holidays, many student athletes have to miss spending time with their beloved
ones. This can put a strain in relationships with relatives. Athletes are
expected to be fully and completely committed to their sport and nothing else. This
means they lack the time to be focused on anything else but their sport.
Setting their priorities straight is imperative in order for them to achieve
success on the field and in the classroom.

"There's good days and there's bad days," says Jai Moore, a
Division 1 basketball player at Niagara University. "I think that, when you are
fully indulged into your sport and truly love what you are doing, it doesn't
feel like a job."

Moore, from Brooklyn, says she dreamed of an opportunity
like this her entire life. She looks at sports as being a privilege. Not many
students are granted the chance to play at a higher level and have their
education paid for. Sometimes it is easy to fall off track; however, students
often times step back and realize how truly blessed they are. Playing amongst
some of the best competition in the country is an amazing experience and, for
some athletes, this is the path they always prayed for.

"It is hard for me sometimes; the option to quit is in the
back of everyone's mind," Moore says. "However, I feel as if that's taking the
easy way out. No one ever said that playing a Division 1 sport in college was
easy. Coping with the pressures is tough, but I refuse to back down from any
challenge or obstacle that will get in the way of me achieving my dreams."

Ultimately, student athletes are given the opportunity that
many others don't have. Athletes are able to play and receive a free college
education. Although it may seem gruesome at times, student athletes have
devoted their entire lives to their sport. If the passion is within them, than
giving up is never an option.

Jazmarie Mader goes in for a header against a
component and nudges her off the ball.